Council scraps knowledge test for new taxi drivers

A council has voted to scrap a "knowledge test" for new taxi drivers.

Bradford Council said drivers would still be given training on the city's "key visitor attractions" and other landmarks.

They must also display licensing stickers and the name of the firm they work for on the side of their vehicles - despite objections from drivers who said it could make them targets for vandalism and abuse.

Councillor Shakeela Lal told Thursday's meeting on taxi licensing that she "wouldn't feel safe getting into a taxi without any markings on".

Lal, who represents the City ward, added: "I understand there are some no-go areas for Asian taxi drivers.

"But I wouldn't feel comfortable getting into a taxi without a decal [sticker], I'd wonder how official they were."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, dozens of drivers piled into Bradford City Hall on Thursday to hear about the plans and share their views.

The council said changes to the knowledge test had come about because of the now widespread use of sat nav systems, although drivers were split on the proposals.

One of the private hire spokesmen, Raja Khan, said there had been "serious safety issue for drivers over recent months".

"We're seeing an increase in private hire vehicles being targeted and vandalised, with windows being smashed. It is unsafe because vehicles are easily identified.

"Other drivers are subject to abuse because we have stickers on our cars."

Mr Khan said modern technology meant that people who book private hire vehicles could get information about their cab, such as make and model and the name of the driver, on an app or by text.

He argued this meant there was no need for vehicles to display decals identifying which company they were from.

In response, the council's Hackney carriage and private hire licensing manager said not all operators had the technology to provide passengers with such details by phone.

"When we speak to the public they tell us they want to see decals," they added.

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